The Newsroom

BBC Cambridge New Premises and Look East Revamp

December 2009 (November 2009)

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ST
South Today
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire have already moved in on monday. BBC Look East moving in a few weeks moving in a few weeks time. I am disappointed with the new studio set almost the same as BBC in Hull. Also I thought the BBC was trying to increase its public presence but this doesnt seem to be the case with this move, with moving from a central location to that of on the outskirts of the city with the lack of branding!

A sad farewell to Hills Road in Cambridge, which has been the home of the West sub opt since the beginning in 1997. Lets hope it gets a special send off. Something similiar to that of St Catherines Close back in 2003 would be lovely, albeit on a smaller scale.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/spacesandplaces/2009/11/bbc_cambridge_goes_live.shtml
Last edited by South Today on 9 December 2009 5:07pm
JT
jolly turnip
Have to say that BBC Hull's Look North set is a nice little set for the tiny studio that it is. Cleverly done
TR
TROGGLES
Have to say that BBC Hull's Look North set is a nice little set for the tiny studio that it is. Cleverly done


Got to agree with you on that one. The new Look Hull editor has turned what was a tin pot amatuerish operation into one that actually looks as though it's a BBC product - the set is a great help in this direction. It is no mean feat given the problems in Hull.
NG
noggin Founding member
I think the 'city centre' location strategy has been modified a bit given the current financial circumstances... It's an aspiration still I'm sure - but not at any cost.

Suitable properties in central Cambridge are few and far between and VERY expensive, which would be difficult to justify in the current circumstances...

I think that the proposed relocation to MK confused things, but once that was shelved, Cambridge relocation became an issue again (the newsroom at Cambridge hasn't been in the main building since 1996 when it moved to a neighbouring building, and then had to move again a few years later, and has never been a brilliant set-up, and I believe the Hills Road main lease was up for renewal?)

I hear reports that the kit-out is pretty impressive for a 6 minute sub-opt - massively better than the recent re-fit of the Cambs operation, and a lot better than the original 4:3 analogue set-up (which was about as basic as you could get!)

Suspect the studio will look a LOT better than the current one.
OV
Orry Verducci
I can't blame them for moving out the centre, there is very little available in terms of space or suitable buildings, not to mention the traffic is terrible during the rush hour. Their current Hills Road home is as close as they are going to get to the city centre, being just down the road from Regent Street/St Andrews Street, which I consider the city centre.

It's good to see they are moving, as someone who travels into Hills Road every day of the week I have to say the current building isn't much to look at and seemed to be a tad on the small side for them. Also the technical quality of their TV output has always left a lot to be desired, with most the output looking like it's come off a questionable analogue source, so it's good to hear the kit has been given an overhaul in the move.

On a related note, I've been told that BBC One analogue from Sandy Heath is now just a rebroadcast of DSat, having been changed during the DSO work this summer. As far as I know DTT is the same setup it has always been, although the introduction of the new building does make me wonder if that is being (or has been) changed to the new digital transmission centre in London.
SK
skyfan
Nice set design, but that fake newsroom backdrop ruins it for me. What the point of having a newsroom with no one in it?
ST
South Today
Nice set design, but that fake newsroom backdrop ruins it for me. What the point of having a newsroom with no one in it?


A panoramic view of Cambridge would look splendid! Whats this obsession with fake newsroom backgrounds again???
HO
House
Nice set design, but that fake newsroom backdrop ruins it for me. What the point of having a newsroom with no one in it?


A panoramic view of Cambridge would look splendid! Whats this obsession with fake newsroom backgrounds again???


I think the idea is that city backdrops for national programmes are too London-centric, but then the regions use it to keep a link with the national news service. All stupid if you ask me.
OV
Orry Verducci
Until recently they did use a backdrop of the city, and it looked naff IMO. Problem with Cambridge is due to how spread out the city is and the lack of any iconic tall buildings its hard to choose a good shot to use which would cover most the landmarks. The only good shot they could use really is Kings College, but that is so overused its probably best avoided.

Also, given their broadcasts are the main programme at 6:30 and the 10:30 bulletin, it's only during the summer on the 6:30 programme they have a backdrop that actually shows anything. While the newsroom looks generic, it does look better than the backdrop and helps brighten the studio.
MW
Mike W
Only have a newsroom backdrop if there is a newsroom there. Otherwise it looks 2D and static.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
The fake newsroom on the Hull set looks pretty good, I *think* it's basically a photo blow up with some strategically placed lighting to subtly "animate" the various monitors so it's not as static as you might think.
NG
noggin Founding member
Until recently they did use a backdrop of the city, and it looked naff IMO. Problem with Cambridge is due to how spread out the city is and the lack of any iconic tall buildings its hard to choose a good shot to use which would cover most the landmarks. The only good shot they could use really is Kings College, but that is so overused its probably best avoided.

Also, given their broadcasts are the main programme at 6:30 and the 10:30 bulletin, it's only during the summer on the 6:30 programme they have a backdrop that actually shows anything. While the newsroom looks generic, it does look better than the backdrop and helps brighten the studio.


The other problem in Cambridge is that at night a lot of the buildings, like Kings College Chapel, aren't floodlit and street lighting is quite low level, so for large parts of the year you'd end up with a black hole (as the Cambridge opt currently does) behind the presenter.

In boring practical terms, most regional studios are getting smaller, and unless you put Barcos (very expensive - and not perfect) in, you often don't have space for a decent big projector, even with wide angle lenses (which hotspot) and mirror folding techniques. Hence lightboxes make sense - ITV News used them for years before they went for their 'Theatre of News'>

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